A surge in votes for UKIP, the NHS, bus passes and global consumerism were just some of the topics up for discussion when BBC Question Time was broadcast live from the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford.

People from across the town joined in some lively debate, quizzing the panel on the day of the county council elections.

David Dimbleby’s guests were Conservative MP Justine Greening, Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman, Baroness Shirley Williams for the Liberal Democrats, historian David Starkey and Observer columnist Victoria Coren.

In reference to UKIP’s early show of progress in the day’s elections, Roger Brindle, of Dartford asked: “Will the clowns and fruitcakes have the last laugh?”

UKIP’s predicted success was a huge concern for Ms Greening and Ms Harman, while Mr Starkey said it represented the entire country’s “deep-seated disenchantment” with politics and politicians who didn’t keep their promises.

The question of whether wealthy pensioners should hand back their bus passes was discussed at length, with Ms Coren arguing it was vital to get elderly people out and about but Mr Starkey claimed it was an unnecessary luxury in hard times.

Nicola Constable, of Dartford, asked the panel about Britain’s responsibility for the recent factory collapse in Bangladesh and our reliance on sweatshops for our clothing.

Ms Coren said she believed people should have fewer products but of a higher standard, so we did not buy things made in poor conditions.

Ms Harman said we needed to educate the world to improve working standards and bring them in line with ours, and Mr Starkey said poor working conditions were the natural result of a country going through industrial revolution and that was the price we paid for having a global market.

On the subject of the NHS, Ms Greening and Ms Harman were at loggerheads, firing statistics at each other while Baroness Williams’ calm voice claimed their parties were both as bad as each other.